| ? What is...? 1. Scientific Fact 2. Research Method 3. Theory 4. Pseduo Science 5. The control in an experiment? |
| 6. What are reliable sources of information? 7. How does Hollywood distort science? What is technology? |
| General Science Questions: |
| Biology Review Questions: |
| 1. �Scientific fact� is fact proven with experiments. It evolves as experiments change and results differ, trying to stay true for every instance that occurs. Scientific fact and absolute truth differ because absolute truth does not necessarily need to be scientifically proven to be rendered true. Scientific fact is always based on multiple and varied experiments and research. Misleading notions such as the idea that scientists know everything and always have an answer/solution can appear because so many questions and problems are solved with science that everyone takes it for granted that there will always be a solution. 2. The �research method� is a method of collecting and processing data. An advantage of using the research method is that you have a place to start your work, and that some people have already done parts of the work for you. A disadvantage of using the research method is that it can sometimes take a lot of time, and at times, the work you researched is not correct. The human element is important because it often times affects the accuracy of the work done, and may therefore completely alter the results of an experiment. 3. Theory develops into fact after logical experiments/observations, multiple occurrences of something that prove the theory (time-tested) and adequate amount of stable support for it. A major scientific theory was the fact that the earth revolved around the sun, instead of the other way around, as most people believed. There had to be observations of stars and constellations, calculations and the popular belief in the theory. Although in the beginning, people were skeptical and even angry, but simple observations and logic soon told the people the truth. A hypothesis is an educated guess, meaning that it is made with the knowledge of some other fact or based on another theory, and it must be proven to be correct. 4. �Pseudo science� is false science. Several cases include the popular belief that getting caught in a rainstorm will cause a cold, or that bats are mice with wings, or that the clouds are solid like cotton. Getting wet from rain does not cause colds, viruses do, but even today people insist that it is true. This is because often times, people do get sick after being in the rain, but getting soaked only provides a better chance for a virus to attack the body. People see the sickness and connect it directly with being in the rain, which is false. Thinking that one thing is something else is another �hypothesis� that is pseudo science, like thinking that bats are mice with wings, just because bats look like mice. Without careful comparison of bats and mice, it is easy to assume that. Since clouds look solid, some can assume that it is, because some scientific facts are based on sight. One may determine fact by using several different methods together, like combining research and experiments and observation and logic. Pseudo science is popular today because it can be a big industry. The weight-losing companies, for instance, use a lot of pseudo science to �prove� that their product works. People believe it because it�s what they want to hear and they don�t bother to question the �facts.� Science views the unknown as countless possibilities, new theories and answers to present-day problems. 5. Controls are a group in an experiment in which nothing is changed, or does not contain the variable. A control serves as a guideline or a comparison to help and show changes. This can give a clear �before and after� picture of the experiment. Variables are single items or conditions or factors which are isolated and tested in an experiment. 6. Sources of information include the television, newspaper and reference books. The television is perhaps the least dependable of the three, only because it reaches the most people and affects the most people, therefore attracting money-makers, who are not always truthful. Facts are often disguised, hidden or completely omitted to suit the broadcaster, often to make money. Unless the TV program is a special news show or channel well known for honesty and accuracy, (Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel, CBS News) information given on the TV is mostly distorted. The newspaper is slightly more dependable, but not always. Too often, the facts are overridden by opinion, and opinion is almost never scientifically correct. Reference books are obviously the best accurate, unbiased and most easily supported source of information. Good science information does not have any opinion or judgment, only facts. If it presents certain cases, it presents both sides of the story and provides support and explanations of its subject. 7. Hollywood distorts science regularly, with movies like Frankenstein, or movies where impossible scientific feats are accomplished. Movies have been made where robots mingle with the human world, where the dead come back to life with an electric shock or cloning is accomplished by a freak accident. This is done because people like to see these kinds of things happen. Technology is a tool of science, and technology is also a product of science. With technology like computers, experiments can be done quickly and accurately, keeping the area of science continually expanding. Technology has also improved because of previous scientific discoveries or improvements, which in turn helps to improve the process of science. |
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